Mail-bag-delivery apparatus.



.NO. 888,518. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

- A. F. MARKWELL. I

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS.

' APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 14, 1907.

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- A. F; MARKWBLL.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED' NOV.14, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J5 11Er 5 10 1 49' 45 A A /0 42 7 f 2/ 1 2/ 20 5 l4 Z2 Z5 623v I I 5 5W AZJZAQQ" FMrM/QZZ a WW I THE NORRIS PETERS cu; WASHINGTOALD. c.

ABNER F. MARKWELL, OF DANA, INDIANA.

MAIL-BAG-DELIVERY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed November 14, 1907. Serial No. 402,170.

T all whomz't may concern:

e mail car, said mechanisms being set for 0 Be it known that I, ABNER F. MARKWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dana, in the county of Vermillion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Mail-Bag-Delivery Apparatus; and I do declare the following. to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bag delivery ap aratus, and has for its object to provide deiivering apparatus ada ted to be arranged at the severa stations a ong the route adapted to be operated by a suitable o crating mech anism carried by the train, w ereby the mail to be delivered at the several stations may be done so without necessitating the stoppage of the train. I

A further object of the invention is to equip the mail car with suitable discharging mechanism designed for the delivery of mail at the various stations, said mechanism being actuated by the operation of the delivery mechanism arranged at the various stations. With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims.

n the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the discharging mechanism arranged at the various statlons and the delivery mechanism carried by the eration. Fig. 2 isa plan view of Fig. 1. ig. 3 is a central cross sectional view taken on the lane indicated by the dotted lines 3-3 of ig. 1. Fig. 4 is a central cross sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the dotted lines 14 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a central cross sectional view showing the delivery mechanism in discharging position.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only and therefore not drawn to scale, the numeral 1 indicates a section of a railway track and 2 the platform at one of the stations which is sup orted a suitable distance above the level 0 the track by spacing member 3 or other equivalent means.

In carrying out the invention an upright support or standard 4 is fixedly mounted on the platform ata suitable point intermediately of its ends and has fixed to it, the outer end of a laterally disposed bearing member 5, arranged to project inwardly toward the track and being formed at such end witha suitable bifurcation 6.

An operatingblock or member 7 is pivotally mounted in the bifurcation of the bearing member 5 and is formed with an inwardly projecting curved end, 8, adapted to be engaged by the inner curved ends of two longitudinally dis osed actuating arms or members 9 pivota y mounted at their outer or opposite ends on and near the ends of the platform. A suitable receptacle 10 is fix edly mounted on the operating block or member for receiving the mail bag to be discharged or delivered into the mail car, the end wall 11 of the receptacle being arranged to have its outer edge project'beyond the side members or pieces 12 of the receptacle, the projecting portion of such end piece or member constituting an engaging portion 13, the purpose of which will be disclosed.

In carrying out the invention one side 14 of the car body is formed with an upright ing member 16. A suitable receptacle 17 is arranged at the outer face and near the upper end of said discharging member for receiving the mail bag to be discharged or delivered at the next station. The inner face or wall of the discharging member is formed or provided with a lateral extending inwardly projecting arm 18 the weight of which serves to normally maintain the same in an upright position.

A fastening member 19 is arranged longitudinallv of the rear body and positioned at a suitable point under the discharging member 16, said fastening member being formed or provided intermediately at its ends with two vertically spaced outwardly projecting ears or lugs 20 between which is pivoted to swing in a horizontal plane an actuating arm 21, said arm being formed near its pivot end with a vertical aperture 21 adapted for registration with corresponding a ertures 22 formed near the outer ends of t e gears or lugs 20 when in a position at right angles to the plane of the car body in which position it may be locked by a vertically disposed locking pin 23 adapted for reception by the apertures of the lugs and actuating arm.

In practice, the discharging mechanism at one of the several stations being set in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, one of the operating arms or members 9 is swung inwardly to engage the inwardly projecting ends 8 of the pivoted block or member, 7. c

'As the train approaches the station, the outer end of the actuating arm 21 engages the outer edge of the member 9 causing said member to swing laterally and throwgthe re ceptacle in which the mail bag, to be dis charged in the car, is placed, inwardly, the projecting portion of the end piece or member of the receptacle engaging the lower end of the discharging member 16 causing it to swing outwardly and discharge the mail bag arranged in the receptacle 17, the mail bag in the receptacle 11 being simultaneously delivered into the car under the door. After the train has passed the station the arm 18, by reason of its weight, causes the discharging member to resume its vertical position. When the actuating arm 21 is not in use, it may be swung inwardly against the outer face of the fastening member 19 and locked in such position by the locking pin.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described, embracing a pivoted member arranged to swing in a vertical plane, the inner end of said member being formed with an inwardly projecting portion, a mail bag receptacle sustained by the outer end of the operating member, an operating member pivoted to swing in a horizontal plane, the free end of said member being adapted for engagement with the inner projecting end of the operating member and an actuating arm adapted to be carried by a railway car for swinging the free end of the operating member in one direction. a

2. A device of the character described, embracing mail bag discharging mechanism arranged to swing-in a vertical plane, means for actuating said mechanism and mail bag delivery apparatus adapted to be pivotally sustained by a railway car and to be actuated by the discharging mechanism.

3. A device of the character described, embracing a pivoted discharging member, adapted to be arranged to swing in a vertical plane, a mail bag receptacle mounted on said member, a longitudinally disposed operating member arranged to swing in a horizontal plane and to have its free end engage the inner end of the discharging member, and delivery mechanism adapted to be pivotally sustained by railway car and to be actuated by the discharging mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABNER FQMARKlVELL. itnesses J. V. PEEX, H. LEIGH DRAPER. 

